Early mornings lead to productive nights for DeVoe

It’s hard to miss the big plays Gabe DeVoe makes on a regular basis for the Shelby High boys basketball team.

But what most fans don’t see is all the work that has helped the junior guard lead Shelby back to the 2A West regional final. The Golden Lions (27-3) face Cuthbertson (28-3), which eliminated Shelby in this round a season ago, at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center.

Much of the progression began between DeVoe’s freshman and sophomore years, when he said working out hard with his Forest City Heat AAU and facing good competition fueled him.

“Seeing where a lot of other players were ahead of me, I knew that I had a lot to do in order to get where I wanted to be,” DeVoe said.

Over the past two school years in the offseason, he has made a habit of early-morning workouts at the Dover Foundation YMCA. On those occasions, he arrived at the YMCA at 5:30 or 5:45 a.m. and worked out before the school day started.

He would lift three days a week and work on ball-handling and shooting the other days, also joining in pick-up games with adult men on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

DeVoe even took along seniors Donte Falls and Chris Wray sometimes.

“If you want something, you’ve got to put in the work,” DeVoe said.

He and his teammates, including four senior starters, are chasing a state championship. They’re two wins away.

Shelby coach Aubrey Hollifield has been impressed not only with the junior’s work ethic, but also DeVoe calling former players to work out with him.

His scoring prowess is obvious — he averages a team-best 20.4 points — but DeVoe also leads the Golden Lions with 135 assists.

“He’s as unselfish as anybody,” Hollifield said. “He gets all the other guys involved, too.”

DeVoe said that’s easy to do the way Falls, Wray and Spencer Clark run the court.

He has saved some of his best performances for the high-stakes games, including a career-high 37 points against East Burke in the third round and 25 against East Rutherford in the second round.

Hollifield expects it to be no different against Cuthbertson, which is led by Wake Forest commitment and fellow junior guard Shelton Mitchell.

“The games that really mean something is when he really shows up,” Hollifield said.

It’s all part of DeVoe hoping to make good on all those hours at the gym by sending off his friends with a state championship in their final season.

“I know that this is their last shot to win the championship,” DeVoe said. “And I know that they look for me to lead and help get there.”

Page 2 of 2 - 2A West basketball regional final

At Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center

11:30 a.m. Saturday, Shelby (27-3) vs. Cuthbertson (28-3)

Tickets: $9; free for ages 5 and under

Only NCHSAA approved passes accepted.

Radio: WOHS 1390-AM

Parking: $8 per spectator vehicle

Winner: Plays in state championship next Saturday (March 16) in Chapel Hill.